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Vernacular Architecture Group

@varchgroup.bsky.social

690 followers 290 following 41 posts

The Vernacular Architecture Group was formed in 1952 to further the study of traditional buildings, originally those of the British Isles. Today the VAG also reflects a growing interest in buildings from other parts of the world. https://www.vag.org.uk

www.vag.org.uk

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Victoria County History @vch-home.bsky.social · 3d

New *draft* text from @vch-oxon.bsky.social, which completes the draft for their 22nd (and penultimate, for the historic county) volume which covers the area around #Chadlington.

The new drafts are for #Chilson, with Shorthampton and Walcot.

All comments, corrections, etc., gratefully received. 🗃️

Oxfordshire vol. XXII - Chadlington and Area

This volume will cover a swathe of west Oxfordshire rural parishes from Chastleton on the west through to Spelsbury, Enstone, and Kiddington on the east

www.history.ac.uk

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Allan T Adams @allantadams.bsky.social · 6d

Sketched on my way to a series of talks organised by @varchgroup.bsky.social & Oxford University in 2019 on recording historic urban buildings. The Sheldonian Theatre & townhouses on St Giles.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#sketchbook #drawing

Pen and watercolour sketch of a late 17th century theatre with a tall cupola on the roof.

Pencil and watercolour sketch of four storey town houses framed by trees.

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Jenne Pape @mudandstud.bsky.social · 8d

Really looking forward to speaking at the 'Counting Chimneys - The Hearth Tax in Lincolnshire' conference on the 25th. Everyone is welcome, book in now! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/counting-c...

Picture shows a mud and stud smokehood exposed when the thatch was removed. It is made of timber and earth walling, but has been cut off below the ridge line. It originally served two fireplaces. The rafters and ridge-piece are much altered, but bits of the reed under-lining of the ceiling within survive

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Vernacular Architecture Group @varchgroup.bsky.social · 8d

#AdoorableThursday Barn door at Sherford, Devon.

Barn door at Sherford, Devon, with planks partly cut out to create a window for cattle peeping out.

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Dr Toby Driver @drtobydriver.bsky.social · 9d

You've got to admire an expert knapped-flint wall - St Mary's Priory Church, 😮 Bungay, #Suffolk

📷 Yesterday

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Allan T Adams @allantadams.bsky.social · 9d

Courtyard of the Golden Cross, Oxford. An inn with a long history, claimed as 1193 on the wall of Pizza Hut. On the left is a long 16th-17th century timber frame with wall paintings, to the rear an 18th century range. Sketched when I was in town to give a lecture, 2019.

#UrbanSketch
#drawing

Pencil sketch of a former inn building, in Oxford. Drawn while sheltering from rain under a gateway. To the left is a timber framed building with bay windows. In the background a brick building of two storeys with a parapet, partly obscured on the right by signs hanging from metal brackets.

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Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group @yvbsg.bsky.social · 9d

#WindowsOnWednesday Some workroom windows, including dairies and cheese rooms, were exempt from window tax if clearly labelled as such.

Dairy window in Old Chamber, West Yorkshire.

Dairy window in Cropton, North Yorkshire.

Dairy window in Eastwood, West Yorkshire.

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Ed Henderson @dredhenderson.bsky.social · 11d

Found this 17th Century farm near in Cumbria last week. Date on the front is 1692. Not listed. Very modified. Changed doors and windows. New roof? No chimneys. I wonder if it’s owned by a water company as it’s close to Thirlmere.

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Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group @yvbsg.bsky.social · 14d

Join us on Saturday 18 October at our follow-up day to hear about buildings we recorded in the south Bradford area in May. We'll also have a walk around the historic buildings of Wibsey. Everybody welcome! Booking details at www.yvbsg.org.uk/events.html.

House in Low Moor surveyed by the YVBSG in May 2025.

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James Wright @jpwarchaeology.bsky.social · 14d

A while back Historic England asked for my opinion on which was the oldest pub in London. The result is a new online article that outlines the variables, busts some myths, and points to a couple of genuinely ancient pubs in and around the city...

heritagecalling.com/2025/09/25/w...

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Carl Paffendorf @pharmerfoto.bsky.social · 28d

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekKforKaraoke
#AdoorableThursday
#UrbanGaze
Let My Love Open the Door – Pete Townshend
#PhotographersOfBluesky
#BlueskyPhotography
#Broviravo #Art
#EastCoastKin

An old brown freight door on a brick wall that has been boarded up with two 2x4s in the shape of an X.

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Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group @yvbsg.bsky.social · 22d

#AdoorableThursday Doorway in the range of farm buildings at Birthwaite Hall, near Barnsley.

Doorway with decorative stone doorhead comprising two protruding cones.

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Vernacular Architecture Group @varchgroup.bsky.social · 22d

#AdoorableThursday The Guildhall, Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire.

Door at the timber-framed Guildhall, Whittlesford, with carved wooden lintel and spandrels.

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Vernacular Architecture Group @varchgroup.bsky.social · 23d

#WindowsOnWednesday Window at Overhouse, Tisbury, with the mullions narrower than their heads.

Vernacular Architecture Group @varchgroup.bsky.social · 23d

Should be good - we visited some amazing buildings in Wiltshire!

Somerset Vernacular Building Research Group (SVBRG) @svbrg.bsky.social · 23d

Wed 17 Sep, Michelle Hilborne & Fergus Dowding on the vernacular architecture of South Wiltshire. Michelle & Fergus will discuss buildings they visited during the @varchgroup.bsky.social Spring Conference, illustrating similarities & differences to Somerset buildings. 7.30pm, Parish Rooms, Somerton.

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Morgan @conwyhistory.bsky.social · 25d

A Lost Gem: The Demise of Parlwr Mawr

In the heart of Conwy, a building full of history was demolished in the 1950s. Parlwr Mawr, the "Great Parlour," was a magnificent townhouse dating back to the late 16th century.
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Kate North @curatorkate.bsky.social · 27d

Worth a read! Alfie Robinson interviewing the brilliant Dr. Tim Meek, @limefinishes.bsky.social - THE expert on lime finishes…

open.substack.com/pub/alfierob...

Beneath the Surface? An Interview with Dr Timothy Meek

The skins of buildings

open.substack.com

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Malcolm Stoneman @malcolmstoneman.bsky.social · 29d

Vine Cottage, #Looe #Cornwall

18th Century set of buildings. Part of small house & coach house grouping.

#AdoorableThursday #LocalHistory

Doorway with door & window below, but window & former doorway above. Ragstone wall with weatherboarding above.

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Vernacular Architecture Group @varchgroup.bsky.social · 29d

#AdoorableThursday Let's hope the residents of this house in Silver Street, Ely, know which keyhole to use.

An old door with a number of old keyholes at Silver Street, Ely

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Vernacular Architecture Group @varchgroup.bsky.social · 29d

A pendant, perhaps? The VAG Glossary is often useful for naming bits and pieces - www.vernacularbuildingglossary.org.uk.

www.vernacularbuildingglossary.org

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Heidi The History Mouse @thehistorymouse.bsky.social · 29d

Chancel #StMichaelBrentKnoll #Somerset on #WoodensDay

Pristine roof. Trusses with queen posts, braces and openwork trefoils between post and purlin (also a pub for roofers). If finials extend upwards what do you call something that extends downwards? This has four of them

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Vernacular Architecture Group @varchgroup.bsky.social · Sep 10

#WindowsOnWednesday Ordsall Hall, Salford.

Large timber bay window with leaded lights at Ordsall Hall

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Maggie Henderson @maggiehbac.bsky.social · Aug 29

Two day buildings bonanza in Nantwich with Jeremy Lake. What a fabulous place for late 16th century timber framed buildings. Can't wait to go back

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Friends of Friendless Churches @friendlesschurches.bsky.social · Sep 5

This late 18th-century nonconformist chapel is a charming example of Georgian vernacular architecture with a hipped clay tile roof, large sash windows, and a delightful dentil-brick cornice.

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Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group @yvbsg.bsky.social · Sep 6

Off we went to Lancashire for the day. We didn't find any hotpot, but we did come across some rather fine buildings in the Pendle area - take a look at our little video at youtu.be/J6R833p2I6Y?....

Round-headed mullion windows with inscription above, at Dean Farm, Pendle.

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